Station-platform.



G. M. SWEDBERG.

STATION PLATFORM.

APPLICATION TILED AUG. 31, 1914.

7H" NORRIS PETERS CO, PHOTD-LITIVJ.. WASHINGTON, D, C.

G. M. SWEDBERG.

STATION PLATFORM.

APPLICATION TILED AUG.31,1914.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS c0, PHOTO-L1THO.. WASHINGTON. an

CHARLES MLSWEDLBERG, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

STATION-PLATFORM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 31, 1914. Serial No. 859.351.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CnAnLns M. Swno- BERG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Yonkers, in the county of estchester and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Station-Platform, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to subway and other station platforms where the track is curved, and deals more especially with means for closing the gap or bridging the space between the curved track side of the platform and the body of the cars at the doorways thereof, so that accidents to persons entering or leaving the cars are effectively avoided.

The invention has for its general objects to improve the construction of gap-closing mechanism of the character referred to for station platforms so as to be reliable and efficient in use, of durable and substantial design and so constructed that the parts or sections can be readily taken out for repair, inspection or renewal.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a plurality of plates or gapclosing sections which project horizontally from the side of the platform and are backed by resilient means whereby the sections can yield inwardly under contact with the side of the car body.

Still another object of the invention is to so operatively connect the plates that the pressing inwardly of one plate to its maximum extent by contact with the end of a car, for instance, will cause the succeeding plates to be pressed inwardly to a pro gressively less extent, so that a car can ride smoothly along the sections without noise, blows and undue wear.

l/Vith such objects in view, and others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be set forth with particularity in the following description and claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, Figure 1 is a plan view of the gapclosing mechanism for a curved platform,

the cover plates for the mechanism being removed and a car body, being shownin contact with the plates of the gap-closing mechanism; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the mechanism; Fig. 3 is an edge view of the mechanism; Fig. l is a similar view showing a modified form of plate construction; Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the manner of pivotally anchoring each of the gap-closing sections or plates; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6, Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of one of the gap-closing sections or plates.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates an ordinary station platform which is curved to correspond with the track and hence is equipped with a gap-closing mechanism B for bridging the space between the platform and the cars that move over the track, the body of the car being designated by (J, in Fig. 1. The platform has in its top surface a shallow depression 1 which accommodates the gap-closing mechanism B, and over this mechanism are removable cover plates 2 fastened in place by screws or other means which are countersunk in the plates 9, the latter being flush with the top surface of the platform. Theseplates are removable to permit access to the parts of the gapclosing mechanism.

The gap-closing mechanism comprises a plurality of plates or sections 5 which are arranged in overlapping relation, one plate being long enough that parts of three or more plates will overlap it. These plates 5 may be disposed at a slight angle to the horizontal, as shown in Fig. 3, or they may be of step formation as shown at 5, F ig. 4:. These plates or sections 5 or 5 are movable horizontally inwardly and outwardly, the movement inwardly being effected by a car coming in contact with the sections and outwardly by resilient means arranged in back of the sections or plates 5 or 5. The resilient means according to the present embodiment comprise bowed springs 7 anchored in the chamber 1 at 8 and connected at 9 with arms 10 on the plates or sections of the gapclosing mechanism. When a plate is pressed inwardly these springs yield, and as soon as theinwardly-applied pressure is removed, that is to say, as soon as the car moves out of contact with a section, the spring comes into play and restores the section to normal position. On each arm 10 is a lug 11 arranged to engage a fixed stop 12 in the chamber 1, whereby the movement outwardly of the sections 5, by virtue of the Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

springs 8, is limited. The plates or sections 5 are disposed with their lengths at a slight angle to the line of the platform, and the inner ends are det-achably and pivotally anchored on individual pivots 13. Each plate or section 5 has its inner end provided with a recess 14;. to receive its respective pivot 13, and a catch or keeper 15 pivoted on each plate is adapted to engage behind the pivot post 13 therefor, and thereby detachably secure each plate or section to its pivot. This keeper or catch is pressed by a spring 16, so that normally a pivotal engagement is maintained. hen it is desired to remove any )late or section it is merely necessary to talre off the cover plate over the pivoted end of such plate or section, and then the spring-pressed keeper is released from the pivot 13, whereby the desired plate or sec tion can be drawn out.

In order to insure smooth passage of a car along the gap-closing device, each section when pressed in causes the pressing in of several plates or sections forwardly therea of, and for this purpose each plate has connection with its adjacent plate. This connecting means comprises a lug or projection 17 on the bottom side of each plate at the front thereof, and a recess 18 in. the upper surface of the next plate adjacent the middle thereof, the recess being larger than the lug 17, so that a lost motion is provided for, and as a result the plates are pressed in progressively less and less from the plate that is pressed in to the maximum extent by contact with the corner of a car. Thus, in Fig. 1, the corner 0 of the car engages the plate I), and consequently the plates or section 6, b Z2 are pressed in progressively to a less extent than the plate b, so that the gap-closing mechanism ahead of the car will provide a smooth surface along which the body of the car can run. This conduces to noiselessness, long life of the parts and smooth running. In Fig. 1 it will be seen that the plates or sections 5 to the left of the section Z) are in contact with the car body so that the space between the latter and the side of the platform A, as indicated by the dotted lines, will be bridged, so that it is impossible for passengers to step into the gap, as is now possible.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the inner ends of the plates are supported on a firm surface or base 19, and one plate rests on another, so that the portions that project out from the platform will support the weight of a person shouldhe step on the plates. One plate is supported on the other by means of the lug 17 thereof engaging in the recess 18 of the plate next below it, and this recess is preferably filled with lubricant.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a curved station platform with a mechanism for closing the gap between the side thereof and a car, said mechanism comprising a plurality of plates separately pivotally mounted on the platform and adapted to contact with the body of a car, and yielding means for urging the plates outwardly.

2. The combination of a curved station platform with a mechanism for closing the gap between the side thereof and a car, said mechanism comprising a plurality of overlapping plates movably mounted'and adapted to contact with the body of a car, yielding means for urging the plates outwardly, and lost motionconnections between adjacent plates, whereby any plate when pressed inwardly causes an inward movement of one or more plates forward thereto.

3. The combination of a curved station platform with a mechanism for closing the gap between the side thereof and a car, said mechanism comprising pivotally mounted overlapping plates, each plate having a recess adjacent its middle, a lug on the under side of each plate adjacent its outer end arranged to engage in the recess on the plate next below it, whereby the plates are movably connected to cause several plates forward of a given plate to move inwardly when such plate is moved inwardly, and means for yieldingly pressing the plates outwardly.

a. The combination of a curved station platform with a mechanism for closing the gap between the side thereof and a car, said mechanism comprising a plurality of movable plates, pivot posts, means on the inner end of each plate for detachable connection with a pivot post, resilient means for pressing each plate outwardly, means for limiting the outward movement of each plate, and a lost motion connection between the adjacent plates, whereby the movement of any plate causes corresponding movements of succeeding plates progressively to a less extent.

5. The combination of a curved station platform with a mechanism for closing the gap between the side thereof and a car, said mechanism comprising a plurality of movable plates, pivot posts, means on the inner end of each plate for detachable connection with a pivot post, resilient means for pressing each plate outwardly, means for limiting the outward movement of each plate, and lugs on the under side of each plate adjacent its outer end, said plates having recesses in their upper surfaces intermediate their ends for receiving the lugs of adjacent plates, whereby the lugs and recesses form lost motion connections between juxtaposed plates.

6. The combination of a station platform, with a mechanism for closingthe 'ap between the side thereof and a car, said mechanism comprising a plurality of plates septo a diminishing extent.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to thls specification 1n the presence of two subscribing wltnesses.

CHARLES M. SWEDBERG.

lVitnesses CHATTER BRADWAY, GEORGE H. EMsLm.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

